Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, attributes Nigeria’s current insecurity to the government’s “absent‑mindedness.” In a recent interview he described the administration as “rudderless,” lacking clear direction and responding to security incidents in an episodic, reactive manner rather than through systematic, proactive policies. Adebayo also criticized the government’s handling of the economy, culture and sports, saying it has failed in every aspect.
When asked about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that Nigeria is a “disgraced country,” Adebayo clarified that Trump was referring specifically to the Tinubu administration, not to Nigeria as a whole. He dismissed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s suggestion that foreign interests—particularly from America—were behind the recent surge in attacks, insisting that the cause of insecurity is simple: the government has failed. According to Adebayo, Nigeria possesses sufficient resources, manpower and institutional experience to defend itself, but these tools are not being used effectively.
Adebayo noted that the opposition is not exploiting the government’s misfortunes; rather, the government is creating too many of them. While the United States has reaffirmed its willingness to deepen security cooperation and share intelligence with Nigeria, Adebayo remains skeptical, arguing that such offers are not new and that the government must take responsibility for its failures instead of relying on external assistance.
Behind the scenes, Adebayo has been working to calm tensions and seek solutions, engaging with international contacts, including the House of Lords, and speaking to the media about the need for cooperation and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty. He deemed the government’s recent security measures—such as deploying additional military personnel and withdrawing police from VIP protection duties—insufficient. The problem, he said, lies with the commander‑in‑chief, who is not providing effective leadership. Adebayo emphasized that addressing Nigeria’s security challenges requires systematic, proactive actions rather than episodic, reactive responses.
Comments are closed for this story.